China’s government procurement agency has removed Symantec and Kaspersky from its list of security software suppliers, ensuring that the state can only buy antivirus programmes from Chinese providers.

The move to block use of software made by Symantec, based in the USA, and Kaspersky, based in Russia, came to light following an announcement on the English-language Twitter feed of the state-owned People’s Daily newspaper.

Removal from the list of approved vendors could mean that no official in the vast Chinese state apparatus, which employs around 10 million civil servants, would be allowed to buy their security software from Symantec or Kaspersky.

But both firms say that they have heard nothing of the sort.

Kaspersky says “There is no evidence” that its products have been “banned” by the Chinese government.

“The Chinese Central Government Procurement Center temporarily rescinded its endorsements of all foreign security providers, leaving only Chinese vendors on the approved list,” the company elaborated in a statement. “However, this restriction only applies to federal institutions whose funding comes from the central government procurement budget, and does not include regional governments or large enterprises. We are investigating and engaging in conversations with the Chinese authorities about this matter. It is too premature to go into any additional detail at this time.

Symantec said in a statement that the firm “is aware of media reports about the company not being on a China government procurement agency list of anti-virus suppliers.

“While we are investigating this report, we would like to clarify that Symantec continues to bid for and win governments projects in China,” it adds. “China is one of our most important international locations and we are committed to the local government and customers. We have been active in the country for more than 15 years and have nine different offices. We have invested significantly in China and are expanding our product development here.”

The relationship between China and foreign technology firms has been strained since files leaked by Edward Snowden revealed the extent of the – sometimes unwitting – interplay between American tech companies and the US surveillance state.

“This is just the latest in a long-running deterioration of relations between the US and China, underpinned by the security/spying issues highlighted by Snowden,” says Andrew Brown of analysts Strategy Analytics. “It shouldn’t be a surprise that the Chinese want to keep their own security ‘in-house’.”

“China is notoriously protectionist and likes to have control over suppliers, which is why it has selected only Chinese vendors Qihoo 360 Technology Co, Venustech, CAJinchen, Beijing Jiangmin and Rising.”

In March, it was revealed that the NSA had specifically targeted Chinese telco Huawei, creating back doors into their networks.

While the motive is seemingly to reduce the state government’s reliance on foreign suppliers, the removal comes after a notice from the public security ministry in June warning that Symantec’s data loss prevention software was insecure, and that branches nationwide should stop using the software.

At the time, Symantec told China Daily that “we are investigating the report and talking with the government.”

“Symantec has a loophole detection team to ensure product safety,” it added.

In May, China banned the use of Windows 8, in the wake of Microsoft ending support for the widely used Windows XP operating system. Last month, the state extended its censure of Microsoft, investigating the company for its “monopoly” of the country’s operating systems. Microsoft said “we aim to build products that deliver the features, security and reliability customers expect, and we will address any concerns the government may have.”